Class 8 English - HARYANA
Poetry: Somebody's Mother
The chapter 'Somebody's Mother' by Mary Dow Brine is a touching poem prescribed for Class 8 students under the Haryana Board (BSEH). It tells the story of an old, poor woman waiting anxiously to cross a busy, snowy street. While many young people ignore her, a kind schoolboy stops to help her safely across, explaining to his friends that someone might someday treat his own mother with similar kindness. This chapter holds immense value for board exams as it teaches moral values, empathy, and social responsibility, while testing students' comprehension skills and ability to decode poetic devices.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Theme of Empathy and Compassion
The poem highlights how a small act of kindness can bring immense joy to someone in need and leaves a lasting positive impact on society.
Rhyme Scheme
The poem follows a consistent AABB rhyming couplet structure, which gives it a musical flow and makes it easy for students to recite and remember.
Visual Imagery
The poet uses vivid descriptions of the freezing winter weather, the crowded street, and the frail old woman to paint a clear picture in the reader's mind.
Moral Responsibility
It teaches young students that it is their duty to respect and help the elderly, treating others the way they would want their own family to be treated.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Haryana (BSEH) Class 8 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions based on the old woman's plight, reference to context (RTC) stanzas, and value-based long questions about the lesson learned from the schoolboy's actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the old woman hesitant to cross the street?
The old woman was weak, aged, and ragged, and she was afraid of being trampled by the fast-moving horses and carriages on the busy, snowy road.
What reason did the schoolboy give for helping the old woman?
The boy said that someday she might be aged and poor, and he hoped someone would help his own mother if she were ever in the same helpless situation.
What is the central message of the poem 'Somebody's Mother'?
The central message is that we should always help those in need, especially the elderly, because kindness shown to others eventually comes back to our own loved ones.
Learn Poetry: Somebody's Mother with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards